Need a EDC fixed blade... Suggestions?

T

ThePatriot29

Joined
Feb 9, 2002
Messages
69
Hi all,
I'm new here, but want to learn. I'm looking for a fixed knife to fit as many of the following requirements as possible, and would love suggestions:

EDC fixed blade for defense
blade between 3" and 7" (my folder has a 3.25" blade, I want
something larger)
As good quality as possible
concealable
reliable
quality steel
Preferably under or around $100

Testimonials, suggestions, what to avoid all greatly appreciated.[B
 
It'll be a bit more than your intended price, but check around and you'll find that any number of Bob Dozier's blades will probably meet your needs. Find him at www.dozierknives.com

He uses his own heat-treated D2 steel and has an outstanding reputation here and in the entire knife community.

Welcome to the Forums.:)
 
Stainless: it would be hard to beat the Fallkniven WM (about $50, can come with black coating and Kydex sheath).
Carbon: Schrade sharpfinger (about $20! a great cutter in 1095) or Marbles caper ($60 or so, in 52100 if still in stock but move quickly)
 
Maybe I should have stated this more explicitly. I want it to be able to be a self-defense knife. If these knives are capable of being a strong self-defense fixed blade, great, just wanted to make that clear.
 
I don't have one myself, but maybe the Spyderco Matriarch. I've heard it recommened several times on theis forum. It's strictly a defense knife though and is not intended for daily use. Its alos only $49 at 1sks.

Ryan
 
but that was more to let you know that there are a million better knives than the Kobun.

Ok you want to spend about 100 or less, that means you are getting a production knife unless you can find a real good deal from someone like R. W. Clark or L6STEEL (both forum members), but lets assume that you are getting a production knife.

My preference for EDC concealed carry would be for a Stainless steel knife (even though i really like carbon steel knives), if you hang out here long enough you will learn which steels are the good ones, so i will spare this thread from steel disscussion.

You want a multi use tactical fixed blade knife, so your knife must Have: a succure handle (a finger notch or something else to help with retention), a pointy tip (the best way to hurt someone in a hurry is with a puncture wound), Decent edge geometry for EDC use (basically the thinner the edge the easier it is to cut), if you are going to be keeping it close on your person you might as well get a coated blade (even if they are ugly) to protect it from perspiration, and you are probably looking for a knife with a blade length from 3.5 to 5 inches and a handle length 4.5in or greater.

This would be my short list:

http://www.1sks.com/store/benchmade-nimravus-info.html

http://www.1sks.com/store/benchmade-nimravus-cub.html

http://www.1sks.com/store/gerber-yari.html

http://www.1sks.com/store/camillus-cuda-cqb-fixed.html *the CB-1
 
An Emerson Lagriffe , around 45.00 ,Dont let the chisel grind fool you this knife is designed for defense! go to DON REARIC.COM and read his artical about this knife. You will have to check out all of his website most informative info available.
 
The problem I have with many of the aforementioned knives is their lack of guards, or very small guards. I would think there is a real danger of one's hand sliding forward in a hard stab.

I recently purchased a Smith and Wesson HRT boot knife for a concealable EDC defensive knife. It has a five inch double edge blade and a wide double guard. The knife is cheap and undoubtedly nowhere near the quality of a Dozier, but I find that wide guard to be reassuring.
 
I dont believe you would have to worry about a guard with the design of the griffe as its secured in the fist by the index finger. and the blade is designed for slashing although you can stab with it if need be.
 
How concealable do you want it to be? Fixed blades longer than 7" overall are going to be pretty hard to conceal. As far as defense vs. utility purposes, defense is one of the least demanding chores of a knife. Any good utility blade is going to be able to be used as defense. If you're talking about knife fighting against a trained knifefighter then that's a different story, where design of guards and blade shape and pommel come into play, but I doubt many people run into those situations in defense scenarios.
 
Another boot knife which should be better than the Smith and Wesson HRT is the Boker boot knife. The blade is 4.8 inches long and the steel is 440C. It has a brass double guard, and I see it advertised for around $90 from internet dealers. The Boker boot knife should meet all of ThePatriot29's requirements - quality, good steel, under $100, etc.
 
I love the Bob Dozier Professional Skinner and Arkansas toothpick for the use you stated. In the IWB sheath or cross draw sheath he makes either can be carried in jeans pockets or IWB with a para cord belt loop you can loop through the holes in the sheath. All you have to remember to do to release the knife is push off on the belt loop of the cross draw sheath and push on the lip of the IWB sheath. They are more money than 100 bucks. Probably close to 200.00 but will be real keepers. He has several other nice models, but those fulfill both the self defense role and utility role. Both have grips designed to keep you fingers off the blade. Also check around for the larger neck knives on bladeart.com and knifeart.com Many don't have to be worn around the neck and are large enough for utility use. Factory knife wise.......there are a lot of ok knives, but none float my boat as much. I would say the new spyderco Perrin fixed blade is pretty nice. Again take of the tek-lok and make yourself a cord IWB loop for your belt and then slip into your waist band. Spyderco's drop point Moran fixed blade fits the bill as well. Again a nice sheath on that one.
 
One other concern. I'm in Virginia. They've outlawed the carrying of dirks and bowie knives concealed. Virginia case law defines a

"'dirk' or weapon of like kind" as "any stabbing weapon having two sharp edges and a point"; and defining "'bowie knife' or weapon of like kind" as "any stabbing weapon having a single sharp edge, a dull or serrated flat edge and a point".
Click to expand...

A bowie knife, by this definition, would be practically any "tactical" knife with one edge, and a dirk any such knife with two edges. If so, what does this mean for an EDC knife? It's better to be tried by 12 then carried by six. The only way that anyone would know that I had it would be if I had to use it in defense, in which case I would be either alive and facing a misdemeanor charge possibly in addition to a homicide investigation, or I'd be dead and not really worrying about breaking VA law. Does this make sense?



*Definition taken from Richards v. Commonwealth, 18 Va. App. 242, 245, 246 n.2, 443 S.E.2d 177, 179, 179 n.2 (1994)
 
The only way that anyone would know that I had it would be if I had to use it in defense
Click to expand...
Police officers are trained to be very observant. You might be surprised at how easily they can tell what you have and where. Furthermore, the hypothetical jury would be told by the prosecutor that you were carrying a weapon so dangerous and deadly that the legislature banned it.

As far as I know even large folders are legal in Virginia. Maybe you could consider them?
 
Well, I have a Smith and Wesson SWAT that I carry everyday. I have been told that for defense, a fixed blade is much better, and wanted to look into getting and "entry level" fixed blade. I won't end up carrying it everyday, but sometimes under a suit coat, or a leather jacket. Does having a CCW liscence change matters any on legality?
 
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